![\"gull-scream-johnny-2\"](\"http:\/\/interior-news.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2025\/05\/gull-scream-johnny-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA cacophony of squawks, mews and cow-cows filled Victoria's Beacon Hill Park on Saturday (May 10) as the Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO) kicked off Victoria Bird Week with a novel and engaging event: the first-ever Scream Like A Gull Contest.<\/p>\n
The contest drew a crowd of close to 100 bird enthusiasts, all eager to witness participants unleash their inner seabird, marking the beginning of Victoria Bird Week (May 12-17), a week-long celebration of avian life organized by RPBO.<\/p>\n
The event coincided with World Migratory Bird Day and the recent proclamation of Greater Victoria as the "Birding Capital of Canada," further solidifying the region's commitment to bird conservation and appreciation.<\/p>\n
James Bay resident and Virgin Radio morning show host Johnny Novak emerged victorious in the gull-screaming showdown.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dressed in white and sporting a gull hat, Novak impressed the judges with his authentic and powerful rendition of a Glaucous-winged gull call.<\/p>\n
His prize? A coveted Pelagic Birding Tour with Eagle Wing Tours, offering him the chance to observe seabirds in their natural habitat.<\/p>\n
Novak credited his win to extensive research, noting that he has lived alongside a flock of Glaucous-winged gulls nesting on his roof for the past three years.<\/p>\n
"I pretty much live with them right now and have taken on their persona," he explained.<\/p>\n
Fellow contestant Kate Romain, a self-proclaimed "bird nerd," also drew inspiration from the rooftop gulls near her new home.<\/p>\n
Dressed as a hummingbird, Romain admitted the challenges of finding a suitable practice space.<\/p>\n
"It was challenging to find a place to practice, screaming like a gull but biking on my way to work, I’d hear them and copy them, that’s how I practised."<\/p>\n
Duncan Grant, another Victoria resident who participated in the contest, emphasized the spirit of camaraderie and conservation.<\/p>\n
"There's a lot of strong competition, but the bigger thing is we're all banding together and we're doing it for the gulls," he said.<\/p>\n
Ten-year-old Ramsey Frombach, despite a touch of nerves, won the costume prize, taking home a $25 Wildbird Unlimited gift certificate. Ramsey's dedication to the theme was evident in her handmade seagull costume, complete with wings and webbed feet, a project she spent a week creating.<\/p>\n